The relationship between the contents of 13 amino acids in brain tissues and the progression of NAFLD via C57BL/6 model mice

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the steatosis of liver parenchyma unrelated to alcoholism, autoimmunity, and viral infection. It is also a metabolism-related syndrome, which has an unseparated relationship with adipose tissue dysfunction and obesity. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is one of the severe complications of chronic liver disease and one of the end-stage syndromes of liver disease. Some researchers have suggested that NAFLD, like other forms of liver injury, may be related to the metabolic disorder of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which have been approved to be associated with HE influencing ammonia and energy metabolism. However, several studies have revealed the relationship among amino acids in serum, HE, and chronic liver disease; there are few studies on the contents of amino acids in brain tissues of an animal model with NAFLD. In the present research, we established a NAFLD mouse model with C57BL/6 mice and determined the contents of 13 amino acids in brain tissues of model mice by HPLC-FLD derivatization method using ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) to explore the relationship between the contents of amino acids in brain tissues and the progression of NAFLD. Moreover, the study showed that the changes of amino acid contents in the brain of the C57BL/6 mice were associated with the advancement of NAFLD, and this change might be related to the mechanism of HE.     

掌上超声在枪弹伤致髂动脉破裂大出血建模中的应用研究

目的探讨掌上超声在野战环境下建立髂动脉枪弹伤大出血动物模型的应用价值。 方法在野战环境下,选择长白猪8只,实验前采集血压、心率等指标。采用掌上超声定位右侧髂动脉,并标记体表弹着点,由专业射手进行射击并保持自由出血30 s,通过连续监测生命体征变化确定是否出现失血性休克。在实验后处死动物,沿弹道进行解剖,明确髂动脉断裂情况。 结果8只动物均一次性建模成功。与建模前相比,建模后收缩压降低［（144.38±14.74）mmHg vs （110.00±29.89）mmHg,P=0.001,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa］,舒张压降低［（96.63±17.20）mmHg vs （74.63±22.06）mmHg,P＜0.001］,平均动脉压降低［（110.63±15.99）mmHg vs （88.38±27.12）mmHg,P=0.003］,心率增快［（67.25±7.73）次/分 vs （94.50±16.62）次/分,P=0.004］,符合失血性休克表现。枪弹射击后,即刻见鲜红色血液喷射而出。解剖后大体观察7只（87.5%）动物髂动脉完全破裂,1只（12.5%）髂动脉不完全断裂,所有动物肌肉损伤严重,股骨均可见粉碎性骨折。 结论在野战环境下,掌上超声引导髂动脉枪弹伤建模成功率高,动物模型稳定,为进一步探索枪弹伤致交界部位致命性大出血的研究奠定了基础。     

Effects of equine-assisted interventions on older adults’ health: A systematic review

ObjectiveEquine-assisted interventions (EAI) can improve a variety of health problems in older adults and thus promote their well-being. This systematic review aimed to synthesize studies on EAI to understand better their effects on the health of older adults.MethodA systematic search guided by the PRISMA 2020 approach was performed on specific databases: Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. Peer-reviewed articles published in the English language from inception to June 2022 were retrieved. Methodological quality was established using the modified version of the Downs and Black checklist.ResultsA total of 244 studies were retrieved, and 13 eligible studies were finally included. Three health domains were investigated: physical (balance, gait, and muscular strength), psychological (quality of life and cognitive assessment), and physiological (hormonal measures, cerebral and muscular activity). Among the eight studies investigating the physical dimension, four studies highlighted a positive effect of EAI on balance, four for gait, and three for strength. Regarding the three studies investigating the psychological dimension, two studies showed a positive effect of EAI on quality of life. Lastly, the four studies investigating the physiological dimensions all demonstrated a positive effect of EAI on hormonal measures and cerebral and muscular activity.ConclusionNevertheless, this systematic review provides promising findings regarding the positive effects of EAI on physical, psychological, and physiological health in older adults. Research on EAI should therefore be pursued rigorously to promote this non-pharmacological intervention in an older adult population.     

The acetylcholine fiber density of the neocortex is altered by isolated rearing and early methamphetamine intoxication in rodents

Alterations in the cholinergic physiology of the brain were the first to be observed when research on environmental influences on postnatal brain development began 35 years ago. Since then, the effects of isolated rearing (IR) or early pharmacological insults have been shown not only on the physiology, but also the anatomy of a variety of transmitter systems. The cholinergic fiber density, however, still remained to be assessed. We therefore used a histochemical procedure to stain cholinergic fibers in the brains of young adult gerbils reared either in groups in enriched environments or isolated in standard makrolon cages. Half of the animals from each rearing condition had received a single high dose of methamphetamine on postnatal day 14. Fiber densities were measured by computerized image analysis in the medial and orbital prefrontal cortex (PFC), dysgranular and granular insular cortex, sensorimotor cortices, and the entorhinal cortex of both hemispheres. Isolation rearing increased the cholinergic fiber densities in the prefrontal cortices of the left hemisphere and in the entorhinal cortex of the right hemisphere by about 10%, with no effect in the respective contralateral side. The early methamphetamine intoxication showed no influence in prefrontal and entorhinal cortices, but diminished the acetylcholine (ACh) innervation of the forelimb area of cortex in both hemispheres in IR gerbils and of the left hemisphere in ER gerbils, and reduced the acetylcholine innervation in the hindlimb area in both sides in both rearing groups. These results demonstrate that (a) cholinergic fiber density is differentially regulated in different cortical areas and (b) the plasticity of the cholinergic system can only be understood in the interplay with other neuromodulatory innervations.     

丹龙定喘汤对哮喘豚鼠气道重塑的作用及机制研究

目的初步探析丹龙定喘汤对哮喘豚鼠气道重塑的作用及机制。方法选取健康雌性豚鼠24只,按体质量分层随机分为4组：空白对照组、模型对照组、地塞米松组、丹龙定喘汤组,每组6只。采用卵蛋白致敏法建立豚鼠哮喘气道重塑模型,以丹龙定喘汤干预,并以地塞米松做对照药物,治疗1个月后分别检测气道重塑的程度及豚鼠肺组织中转化生长因子β1（TGF-β1）含量。结果 （1）模型对照组豚鼠肺支气管管壁和平滑肌层明显增厚,与空白对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;丹龙定喘汤组气道壁厚度减轻,与模型对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,与地塞米松组相比,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。（2）模型对照组豚鼠肺组织中的TGF-β1含量明显增加,与空白对照组相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;丹龙定喘汤组TGF-β1含量减少,与模型对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,与地塞米松组相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论丹龙定喘汤对哮喘豚鼠气道重塑有一定抑制作用,其机制可能是通过下调哮喘豚鼠肺组织中的TGF-β1水平,抑制气道平滑肌细胞及细胞外基质的增殖而阻断气道重塑的进程。     

经皮肤损伤感染马尔尼菲青霉菌致病力动物实验研究

目的研究马尔尼菲青霉菌经皮肤损伤途径感染小鼠致病力情况。方法将马尔尼菲青霉菌野生株和人感染株孢子悬液分别注入鼠尾皮内,观察接种后发病情况,于第15,50 d分批处死、解剖。结果马尔尼菲青霉菌导致小鼠皮肤感染发病率为100%,而85%小鼠皮损可自行消退痊愈,15%小鼠出现皮肤播散性感染;组织病理示:皮损处细胞性炎症反应在皮损中显著。从发病时间和早期病变严重程度比较,野生株致病力显著强于人感染株(P<0.05);但是从后期病变严重程度和自行痊愈率比较,野生株和人感染株致病力差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论马尔尼菲青霉菌可以经皮肤损伤引起小鼠致病,其引起机体剧烈细胞免疫应答反应是致病力重要因素之一;野生株和人感染株感染早期致病力有差异,预后无差异。     

Thalidomide upregulates macrophage inflammatory protein-1α in a herpes simplex virus-induced Behçet’s disease-like animal model

The mechanism of action of thalidomide in the treatment of patients with Behçets disease (BD) is poorly understood. There is some evidence to suggest that certain immunological abnormalities are associated with the pathogenesis of BD. A BD-like mouse model induced by herpes simplex virus (HSV) inoculation shows similar immunological abnormalities. In this study, thalidomide was administered in order to understand the mechanism for the improvement in symptoms in BD-like mice. Eight out of ten thalidomide-treated mice showed improvement but none of ten placebo-treated mice (P<0.005). The improvements were seen in mucocutaneous symptoms. The mice were sacrificed on the 6th day, and the spleens subjected to RT-PCR, FACS, Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-, TNF, TGF, MCP-1, RANTES, perforin, IP-10, FasL, FasR and MIP-1 were determined. Among these, TNF, MIP-1, perforin and Fas were influenced by thalidomide treatment. These results suggest that thalidomide can attenuate HSV-induced BD-like symptoms in mice through the downregulation of TNF (P<0.005) and the upregulation of MIP-1 (P<0.005), perforin (P<0.05) and FasR (P<0.1).Abbreviations BD Behçets disease - COX Cyclooxygenases - FasL Fas ligand - FasR Fas receptor - MIP-1 Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 - HSV Herpes simplex virus - IFN Interferon - IL Interleukin - iNOS Inducible nitric oxide synthase - IP-10 Interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 - LPT Lymphotactin - MCP Monocyte chemotactic protein - PI Propidium iodide - RANTES Regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted - TGF Tumor growth factor - TNF Tumor necrosis factor     

军事应激损伤机制的研究

目的:研究军事应激对武警官兵健康的影响,探讨如何提高执行处置紧急突发事件的适应和反应能力。方法:采用症状自评量表(SCL-90)、Zung抑郁自评量表(SDS)、焦虑自评量表(SAS)等量表对执行10类不同的任务的官兵10113名进行随机整群测评。并对部分人员行血浆T3、T4检测。采用单光子发射断层显像术(SPECT)研究高强度训练对官兵骨功能的影响。针对官兵出现的应激表现,采取相应干预措施。通过跳台、避暗和Y迷路动物实验,采用心电图(ECG)监测、正电子发射断层显像(PET)脑功能成像研究动物枪击下肢后的远达效应。结果:与对照组相比,军事应激严重影响执行不同任务官兵的战斗力的生成(P<0.01),SPECT显示高强度训练可引起多个部位的骨损伤(P<0.01)。初步研究显示针对性的集体健康教育、个体及集体心理治疗以及中药和针刺显著提高官兵的战斗力(P<0.01)。动物实验显示应激环境下动物的适应和反应能力降低(P<0.01),并且动物下肢枪伤可造成远隔脏器的损伤(P<0.01)。结论:军事应激可严重影响官兵的战斗力生成,针对性干预可提高战斗力。     

Reversal of visceral and somatic hypersensitivity in a subset of hypersensitive rats by intracolonic lidocaine

Chronic abdominal pain is a common gastrointestinal symptom experienced by patients. We have previously shown that IBS patients with visceral hypersensitivity also have evidence of thermal hypersensitivity of the hand and foot that is reversed by rectal lidocaine jelly. We have also recently developed an animal model of chronic visceral and somatic hypersensitivity in rats treated with intracolonic trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of intracolonic lidocaine on visceral/somatic hypersensitivity in TNBS-treated rats. A total of 20 hypersensitive rats received either 20mg intracolonic lidocaine (n=10) or saline jelly (n=10). In comparison to saline jelly, intracolonic lidocaine jelly reduced responses to nociceptive visceral/somatic stimuli in hypersensitive rats. The effects were present within 5-30 min after administration of lidocaine and lasted for 6h. Lidocaine had no effects on recovered rats or control rats that had originally been treated with intracolonic saline instead of TNBS. Local anesthetic blockade of peripheral impulse input from the colon reduces both visceral and somatic hypersensitivity in TNBS-treated rats, similar to results in IBS patients. The results provide further evidence that visceral and secondary somatic hypersensitivity in a subset of TNBS-treated rats reflect central sensitization mechanisms maintained by tonic impulse input from the colon. This study evaluates the reversal of visceral/somatic hypersensitivity in a subset of TNBS-treated rats with intracolonic lidocaine. This animal model may be used in the future to study the mechanisms of local anesthetic agents applied to the gut to reduce visceral pain.